Foldable bed



W1. Il 1. DENNIS, ,uw 2%2 FOLDABLE BED Filed March 15, 1939 3 sheets-sheet 1 J. DENNES, .JH

FOLDABLE BED 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l5, 1939 ATTORNEYS Mmm www, 'Wflm R .J E, N N E D i FOLDABLE BED 5 Sheetsheet I5v Filed March l5, 1959 ATTORNEYS lil l into compact form and when Patented Nov. 19, 194() UNITED STATES PATENT FICE Application March 15,

5 Claims.

The invention relates toa foldable bed and more especially to a disappearing or wall bed.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a bed of this character, wherein its construction permits of the folding thereof in a unique manner so as to be concealed from View when not in use and is susceptible of being stored in a wall recess closed by a frontal piece or panel, the bed being readily extended or unfolded for use.

ing thereof, being safe for occupancy and when not in use will disappear from View.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bed of this character, wherein the build thereof permits of the folding of the same in a folded condition allows for maximum room space in that no part of the room is occupied by the bed except when the same is unfolded or extended for use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a bed of this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and effective in operation, novel in construction, convenient for sleeping purposes, readily and easily handled, and inexpensive toi manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the bed, constructed in accordance with the invention shown, in lowered and extended position ready for use, a portion of the space or recess in which the bed is foldable being shown.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 sho-wing the bed folded in its space or recess.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top `plan view with the bed lowered and in extended position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional 5 5 of Figure 4 looking arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken View taken on the line in the direction of the 1939, Serial No. 262,037 (Cl. 5-143) on the line 6*@ of Figure 5 looking in the direotion of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the legs for the bed being partly extended by full lines and by dotted lines in a 5 supporting position when the bed is lowered and extended.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view partly in section with the bed lowered and illustrates one of the legs, with the latter retracted, l0 together with the position assumed by the toggle means and associated elements effecting the operation of the legs, when they are retracted.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the bed when in a lowered extended position.

Figure l0 is a sectional View taken on the line l-l of Figure 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates the .foldable bed, which, when in a folded condition, is adapted to be accommodated in a spaceor recess of some character, for example, at lli, being formed in a side wall of an enclosure and is partially open at li so that the bed A when unfolded or lowered and extended for use can be projected into the enclosure for such purpose. The opening itl is closed by a panel, or what might be termed a door, l2 provided at opposite side edges thereof with flanges lil which extend parallel with each other and at substantially right angles from the innermost face of said door. These flanges at opposite ends thereof are provided with slots tli and l5, respectively. Each slot lll at the outermost end thereof opens at right angles thereto, as at it, through the free edge of the ange f3 having the same, while each slot i5 opens straight through the free end edge of said flange. The slots ift accommodate rollers il' journaled upon fixed stud axles or arbors it, these being secured in the opposite sides of the recess or space' to project inwardly thereof in axial alignment in a horizontal plane so that the panel or door if is susceptible of vertical swing and has limited displacement so that it can be brought into register with the opening l! to t therein, the flanges it being extended at the ends having the slots il beyond the said panel or door for displacement thereof supplementary to the vertical swing of the same,

Carried by the panel or door i2 is a bed spring frame I9 including opposite side rails 20 and I9. In this manner the frame opposite end rails 2I and 22, respectively, these being integral with each other for rigidity to the said frame I9. The bed springs are denoted at 23 and are supported by the frame I9 in the usual well-known manner, which frame is also strengthened by diagonally disposed cross braces 24, as is usual. Each side rail 29 is provided with a slot 25 companion to the slot I4 next thereto and opens through the said rail 29. The slot 25 'fl accommodates the roller Il which is accommodated in the slot I4, while spaced from this slot 25 and on each of the rails 29 is a coupling lug 25, received in the slot I5 next thereto, and being permanently xed in the rail 29 of the frame I9 is slidably fitted on the door or panel I2 at the innermost side thereof between the flanges I3 thereon. Each slot is closed at its open end by a releasable latch 21 so as to prevent the accidental release of the roller I1 from the slot 25. However, when it is desired to detach the panel or door I2 from the rollers I1 and also to have the frame I9 removed therewith, the latches 21 are released from closing position with respect to the slots 25 and the rollers I1 having passage through the openings I6 of the slots I4.

The frame I9 is built with spaced parallel cross bars 29 and 29 and to the bar 28 is attached the extensible and contractable cable 39 of a takeup device 3|, being a spring winding type, and fixed within the space or recess I9 below the axis of swing of the panel or door I2 and said cable 39 is trained over a guide pulley 32 adjacent to the lowermost portion of the opening II, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

It is of course understood that a pair of takeup devices 3l are employed and their location is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

Mounted on each of the side rails 29 next to the end rail 22 of the frame I9 is a guide bracket 33 in which is slidable and turnable a supporting leg 34, which is pivotally linked at 35 to an arm 35 of a double-armed toggle, the other arm 31 being pivoted at 99 to the bar 29 and this arm has connected to it a cable 39, which is connected with a coiled tensioning or retractile spring 49 anchored at 4I within the space or recess of the bottom thereof. This cable 39 is threaded through guide eyes 42 and 43, respectively, these being on the frame I9. It is of course understood that there is employed a pair of doublearmed toggles, these being arranged at opposite sides of the frame I9 interiorly thereof and a single cable 39 has connection with such toggles, as before indicated, for the tensioning thereof in unison with each other.

The operation of the toggles when the bed is lowered and extended effects the projecting of the legs 34 so that they can be swung to supporting position. In this position each leg 34 has a pivot lug 44 engaging in a fulcrum seat 45 in the bracket 33. The leg 34 is fastened in the supporting position by a set screw 49 fitted in the bracket 33. The screw 4S is conveniently accessible for manual operation. The spring 49 is of a strength to extend the toggles when the bed is lowered and in this manner project the legs 34. The supporting position of the legs 34 is shown in Figures l and 4 of the drawings.

The arm 36 of each toggle has connected thereto a coiled spring 41, which is connected with the bar 29, and the purpose of this spring is to operate the toggle when the bed is to be folded within the space or recess I9 and the legs 34 have been released by the set screws 46 and turned to a position for sliding through the brackets 33, as is shown by full lines in Figure '1 of the drawings. This spring 41 becomes active by the lessening of the tension on the cable 39 resultant from the vertical swinging of the bed to disappearing position within the recess or space I9 and thus the said legs will be retracted in the frame I9 and also this frame will lower with relation to the panel or door I2 when the latter is in perpendicular position closing the open front II and the bed has disappeared within the space or recess I9. However, when the bed has been lowered and extended, it is preferable that the same be latched in this position by latches mounted on a crown rail 48 upon the frame I9. Next to opposite ends of said rail are the swingaby supported releasable latches 49, these being engageable in keeper notches 59 provided in the opposite sides of the space or recess I9 and in this fashion the accidental folding of the bed will be prevented with the result that safety is assured during occupancy thereof.

The bed in its entirety swings sidewise although it can be mounted to swing endwise in the folding and unfolding thereof without necessitating any changes or alterations in the construction hereinbefore set forth.

The panel or door I2 is equipped with a suitable latch adapted for hand control, as at 5I, for the latching of such panel or door in its closed position.

The frame I9 is equipped with side pieces 52 and also equipped with mattress holds, one being indicated at 53, for a` mattress superimposed upon the springs 23 of the frame I9.

The frame I9 is slidably supported by the panel or door I2 so that it can be lowered into the space or recess I9 on the vertical swinging of the panel or door to closing position and in this way eliminating the necessity for increasing the size of the opening II for effecting a clearance sufficient for the proper operation of the bed in the folding thereof and the disappearance of the same as before stated.

The latches 49 are released from the keeper notches 59 for the folding of the bed and when such bed is lowered and extended, these latches 49 engage in the keepers 59, locking the bed in such lowered extended position.

The frame I9 has on each side rail 29 thereof a stop 54 which limits sliding movement inwardly with respect to the panel or door I2 when the bed is lowered or unfolded and this stop makes contact with the wall 55 when the bed is in unfolded condition. This stop 54 also has engagement with the edge next thereto of said panel or door I2 as will appear in Figures 4, 5 and 9 of the drawings.

The cables 39 of the devices 3I are trained over the pulleys 32, which are located a determined distance below the axis on which the bed swings, the axis being established by the arbors I8 having the rollers I1 journaled thereon so that the said devices 3| do not actually operate for balancing purposes but merely assist in pulling the frame I9 inwardly on the upward swing of the panel or door I2. The tension of these devices 3I is dissipated when the panel or door I2 has been swung downwardly to a substantially horizontal position so as to relieve the frame I9 from any excessive resisting eifect from the said devices 3l. As the panel or door I2 moves to a horizontal position, the frame I9 is manually pulled upon. This manual operation is augmented by the influence of the spring 49 which functions to move the legs 3f! so that the same can ing opposite side anges parallel with each other be turned to a supporting position when the at the innermost face, a mattress springs slidahly frame I9 has been pulled out far enough that the connected with said flanges, supporting legs movsaid legs clear the panel or door i 2. The panel ably fitted to the said springs and swingable to tially horizontal position `hy the latches 49 heresliding of the springs, means for latching the inbefore described. legs in supporting position, means for latching The devices 3i are not 01"' a powerful type and the springs against inward sliding movement relhaVe been released from supporting position. The of the springs for the shifting of the legs to spring 41 is only of a suilicient tension to eiTect supporting and non-supporting positions, a crown the initial breaking of the toggles i1 as when rail on the said springs, latches swingably fitthe panel or door i2 reaches an elevation above ted to the crown rail and engageable with xed 15 the horizontal plane these legs through gravity portions of the enclosure for holding the panel will slide inwardly of the frame i9. The panel or and mattress springs when in a horizontally disdoor i 2 with the frame I9 thereon settles to a posed position against folding movement, stops when the lbed in its entirety has been raised comthe edge of the panel when lthe springs are in a 20 these in the slots I4 and 25. The slots I4 are the swinging thereof in the plane of the springs in the ilanges i3 while the slots 25 are in the and at right angles to the panel. 25 side rails 2l), these slots being in matched rela- 4. A folding bed for an enclosure having a door tion to each other. opening comprising a panel for said opening hav- What is claimed is: ing opposite side flanges parallel with each other 1. A folding bed for an enclosure having a at the innermost face, a mattress springs sliddoor opening comprising a panel for said openably connected with said flanges, supporting legs 30 and swingable to supporting and non-supporting ing the springs against inward sliding movement 35 for latching the legs in supporting position, sa1d panel is horizontal, toggles operating with means for latching the springs against inward the said legs and controlled through movement sliding movement relative to the panel and the 0f the Springs for the shifting of the legs to supdoor opening when said panel is horizontal, togporting and non-SupDOltins positions, a CrOWn 40 and latches swlngably ntted to the crown rail position against folding movement, stops on the 45 movably ntted to the said springs and swlngable legs, the flanges beine slotted at opposite ends 55 ing the Springs against inward suding movement stud axles iixed within the enclosure at the open- GO relative to the panel and the door opening when` ing thereof for accommodation in the last-mensaid panel is horizontal, toggles operating with tOIled SIOS and regulatlng dISplacement of the the said legs and controlled through movement springs and panel with respect to `the opening of the springs for the shifting of the legs to supand also the vertical swing of said spring and porting and non-supporting positions, a crown panel.

rail on the said springs, latches swingably fitted 5. A folding bed for an enclosure having a 65 to the crown rail and engageable with iixed door opening comprising a panel for said openportions of the enclosure for holding the panel ing having opposite side ilanges parallel with and mattress springs when in a horizontally diseach other at the innermost face, a mattress posed position against folding movement, and springs slidably connected with said flanges, supstops on the said mattress springs for coaction porting legs movably fitted to the said springs 70 with the edge of the panel when the springs are and swingable to supporting and non-supportin a horizontal position to limit movement of the ing positions on the sliding of the springs, means latter in another direction. for latching the legs in supporting position, 3. A folding bed for an enclosure having a door means for latching the springs against inopening comprising a panel for said opening hav- Ward sliding movement relative to the panel and 76 15 With the toggles 4 the door opening when 'Sayid panel is horizontal, ytoggles operating with the said legs and controlled through movement of the springs for the shifting of the legs to supporting and nonpositions, a crown rail on the said springs, latches swingably fitted to the crown rail and engageable with fixed por-tions of the enclosure for holding the panel and mattress springs when in a horizontally disposed position against folding movement, stops on the said mattress springs for coaction with the edge of the panel when the springs are in a horizontal position to limit movement of the latter in another direction, means loosely lConnecting the said legs for the swinging thereof in the plane of the springs and at right angles to the panel, brackets on the springs having ulorum seats, pivot lugs on the legs for engaging the fulcrum seats on the swinging of said legs, the ilanges being slotted at opposite ends thereof, one slot at one end of each flange being provided with a substantially right angular portion thereto opening through the flange, stud axles fixed within the enclosure at the opening thereof for accommodation in the last-mentioned slots and regulating displacement of the springs and panel with respect to the opening and also the vertical swing of said spring and panel, and takeup devices coacting with the springs.

J Ol-IN DENNIS, JR. 

